ADVENT: Day Twenty One – December 21, 2013

“[9]But you are a ‘chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for GOD’s own possession,’ so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; [10]for you once were ‘not a people’ but now you are the ‘people of GOD;’ you had ‘not received mercy’ but now you have ‘received mercy.’” 

“And He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of GOD in Him.”—2 Corinthians 5:21

One of the most exciting truths about the Christmas event is that it is the incarnation of GOD’s redemptive plan for all who believe.  GOD’s redemptive work isn’t simply about making it possible for us to go to Heaven when we die but what His redemptive work accomplished to make that possible.  The most tragic consequence of the Fall is that all who are born of Adam (which is everyone who has ever been born to man and woman) inherit Adam’s sinful nature which separated Adam from GOD.

GOD’s redemptive work resolves that curse.  JESUS (GOD in the flesh) did not commit sins but literally became sin (took on the sin nature of Adam . . . became the 2^nd Adam) and, as the Perfect Sacrificial Lamb of GOD, took on the penalty (death sentence) of Adam’s rebellion against GOD.  As a result, when we believe, our Adamic nature dies and in its place we receive the “spiritual DNA” of JESUS . . . HOLY SPIRIT invades our spirit and we are totally and completely take on the very perfect nature of JESUS Himself.

We were once “not a people” but now, in Christ, we become the “people of GOD.”  At one time we had “not received mercy” but now, Christ, we have “received mercy.”

Praising GOD . . . Our Great Physician and Redeemer!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ADVENT: Day Twenty – December 20, 2013

Read Luke 2:8-14:  “[10]But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; [11]for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the LORD.’”

GOD’s heavenly messenger brings good news . . . MESSIAH has come . . . The SAVIOR is born!  

This Angel has looked out over us from every
Christmas tree top for my whole life.  She was
born some time in the 1940's.

This is cause for great JOY, not just for some people, but for ALL people.  JESUS the Messiah is the Redeemer for ALL who will believes . . . regardless of economic standing, regardless of political leanings, regardless of heritage, regardless of reputation, regardless of the depths of depravity . . . JESUS is the Savior for ALL who believe.

Think of the most exciting Christmas gift you ever received; think of the anticipation you had as you counted down the days; think of the way you kept trying to guess if this was really going to be that gift and the way you built up hope and excitement.  And then the day comes and you tear into the package and there it is!  It is exactly what you were dreaming of.  Obviously, the gift that GOD has given us on Christmas Day eclipses any other Christmas experience or gift of our entire lives. 

Like the angels did that night two thousand years ago we rejoice and we give GOD glory and praise for the gift of His Son, JESUS!

Living in great JOY because the Savior, who is Christ the LORD has come!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ADVENT: Day Nineteen – December 19, 2013

Read Luke 1:39-55:  [44]Elizabeth said: “For behold, when the sound of your (Mary) greeting reached my ears, the baby (John) leaped in my womb for joy.”  Mary said:  [46]My soul exalts the LORD, [47]and my spirit has rejoiced in GOD my Savior.  [48]For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; for behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.  [49]For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name.”

John leaps with joy in his mother’s womb because of the presence of JESUS.  Amazingly, before JESUS is even born He is bringing joy to the world.  This is still true today.  As we celebrate this ADVENT season the world is filled with great joy and expectation.  It is important that we do not allow ourselves to become to accustomed to the story of Christmas.  Do not lose your childlike anticipation of the Christ-child.  May our hearts continue leaping with great joy as we embrace the truth of Christmas morning.

As Mary thinks about GOD’s inclusion of her in His incredible plan of redemption she is overwhelmed with joy.  She is overwhelmed with joy at the coming redemptive work of GOD.  She is overwhelmed with joy because GOD is making good on His promises.  May we also be continuously overwhelmed by GOD’s redemptive plan . . . at the gift of JESUS, My Deliverer.  May we be continuously overwhelmed that GOD is Faithful and is fulfilling His promises.  May we be continuously overwhelmed because, like Mary, GOD has chosen us to be included in His plan of salvation. 

By GOD’s grace He chose Mary to bear His Son, and by His grace He has chosen me to be His Son!  That is the source of our JOY during this season of Advent!

I am overwhelmed with great JOY . . . My prayer is that you know what I mean!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ADVENT: Day Seventeen – December 17, 2013

Read Isaiah 9:1-7:  [1]”But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish . . .; [2]The people who walk in darkness will see a great Light; those who live in a dark land, the Light will shine on them, [3]You shall multiply the nation, You shall increase their gladness; they will be glad in Your presence s with the gladness of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. [6]For a Child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty GOD, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

The prophet continues to look ahead to the joyful day of redemption.  As the light of dawn breaks the darkness bound by night, so will the Light of GOD’s life penetrate the darkness of sin and death.  The fulfillment of this great vision of GOD’s redemption came on Christmas Day.  JESUS, the Light of the World, came down into the darkness of this world and into the darkness of our lives.

This is precisely why we celebrate Christmas in a very big way!  Christmas Day is the day we set aside to remember . . . Messiah has come . . . the Light of the World is shining brightly . . . redemption is nigh!  Through the CHRIST GOD has changed my past.  I am no longer a son of Adam!  I am now a son of GOD . . . a brother to JESUS . . . a joint heir with Christ!  Through Messiah’s birth . . . for the purpose of His suffering and taking upon Himself the penalty for my sin . . . I have become the righteousness of GOD in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21)

 As Madea might say . . . HALLELUJER & PRAISE THE LORT!” – This is Good News indeed!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ADVENT: Day Sixteen – December 16, 2013

Read all of Isaiah 35:  “[3]Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.  [4]Say to those with anxious heart, take courage, fear not.  Behold, your GOD will come with vengeance; the recompense of GOD will come, but He will save you.”

Isaiah is painting an incredible picture of the coming day of salvation.  GOD will come giving sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, the lame will walk, and the mute will speak.  JESUS fulfilled this prophecy as He healed the blind, the deaf, the lame and the mute.  But another Advent is coming when MESSIAH returns and brings eternal healing.  There will be no more sorrow, no more tears.  We experience incredible JOY at JESUS’ first coming as He has brought literal healing, but even more importantly, He has brought spiritual healing.  Most will not see the truth in that statement.  It seems to most, literal, physical healing here and now is more thrilling that JESUS’ eternal healing of our soul.  That is unfortunate.  One day there will be only gladness and JOY unspeakable for ever more.

I picked this one up in Kenya in 1999

JESUS’ coming on Christmas Day is good news for a broken and hurting world.  It is good news for my brokenness, pain, and suffering.  I rejoice in JESUS’ healing of my soul here and now!  Yet, I eagerly await His second advent, when there will be no more tears and no more sorrow.  As I remember His first arrival on Christmas Day, I truly long for His second . . . “washed and waiting” . . . “living between the Edens!”

Greatly anticipating JESUS coming . . . on Christmas Day . . . and soon forever!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ADVENT: Day Fifteen – December 15, 2013

Isaiah 52:7-10:  [9]”Break forth, shout joyfully together, you waste places of Jerusalem [all who believe]; for the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem [all who believe].  [10]The LORD has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations, that all the ends of the earth may see the salvation of our GOD.”

Today is the third Sunday of Advent.  The Candle of JOY (pink) is lighted reminding us that GOD’s salvation brings JOY!

The prophet Isaiah looks to a day when GOD will come and fulfill His promise of salvation.  He will comfort.  He will redeem.  He will bring salvation to the ends of the earth and to all who believe.  This time of great joy is inaugurated at that first Christmas in the little town of Bethlehem.

The LORD alone is our salvation.  In Him are hope, peace and JOY.  As I prepare my heart for Christmas Day, I am reminded of the salvation I have in JESUS CHRIST.  This is the JOY that comes only from GOD through JESUS!  It is a JOY that exceeds my circumstances.  It cannot be ignited by my circumstances nor can it be quenched by my circumstances.  It is JOY unspeakable and causes me to behave in ways that seems foolish to those around me who do not believe and therefore who cannot understand.

Foolishly & wildly expressing my great JOY because of Christmas Day!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ADVENT: Day Fourteen – December 14, 2013

Luke 2:13-20:  “[13]And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising GOD and saying, [14]Glory to GOD in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.  [17]When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.  [20]The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising GOD for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.”

WOW!  A birth announcement delivered by angels!  That’s how my birth was announced!  Well, maybe not!  How do you suppose those humble shepherds must have felt?  This is such an incredible part of the story.  GOD’s amazing plan of redemption and the ultimate fulfillment of His promise had occurred and it was being revealed to a group of poor, lowly shepherds.  GOD’s plan did not exclusively apply to the spiritual elites and culturally powerful, but with all people.  People like you and me!

John 3:16-17 reminds us that JESUS came for all people, for the entire world . . . to the rich and the poor, to the famous and the forgotten.  JESUS came for you (put your name there).  JESUS came for me.  I did not deserve His love.  I did not earn His forgiveness and redemption.  Just as GOD brought JESUS into the world historically then and announced His birth to humble shepherds on that Christmas night  He has come for you and for me.

I’m rejoicing with the angels and with the shepherds . . . MESSIAH is born!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!